iPolitics AM: Morneau to be quizzed over COVID-19 spending, deficit during virtual appearance at finance committee

Minister of Finance Bill Morneau and Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz give an update on financial measures to help Canadians with the effects of COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Mar. 18, 2020. Andrew Meade/iPolitics

Conservative finance critic Pierre Poilievre may get another chance to cross-examine Canada’s finance minister over just how many tens of billions of dollars will be added onto the national debt as a result of his government’s ongoing bid to mitigate both the health and economic risks posed by the COVID-19 outbreak when Bill Morneau makes a virtual appearance before the House FINANCE committee later this afternoon. (4 – 6 PM)

The rapid-fire back-and-forth between the two men was among the most lively cross-aisle exchanges to take place during yesterday’s in-person meeting of the SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

“Poilievre peppered Morneau with questions about the federal debt at least eight times, at one point asking the finance minister if he knows ‘What $1 trillion is,’” Canadian Press reported in its post-sitting recap — and while Morneau insisted that his government is being “prudent in the face of this economic challenge, the wire service notes, “he did not reveal any numbers relating to Canada’s federal debt nor its deficit.”

As per the current committee agenda, Morneau will spend just 45 minutes fielding questions via webcam, although a contingent of senior officials will be available for follow-up queries for the full two hours set aside for the meeting.

Also booked in for a Zoom meet-up today: The COVID-19 special committee, which will kick off its third — and final —session of the week at noon. (12 PM)

While the session will include the standard 95-minute question period, one front bencher who, at least at press time, isn’t planning to join the remote discussion is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself.

According to his official itinerary, with the exception of his daily mid-morning media availability (11:15 AM), Trudeau has blocked off most of the day for “private meetings,” including a group call with his provincial and territorial counterpart and a phone check-in with International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva.

He’s also booked in for a “visit” with members of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, which, his advisory notes, issues “an annual invitation … to elected officials” during National Nursing Week that “allows them to see first-hand the important work nurses are doing.”

Meanwhile, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet returns to his “virtual tour” of Quebec with a second round of discussions with Lac-Saint-Jean area officials, businesses and community representatives.

Finally, the Bank of Canada will release the results of its latest system-wide review, which, according to the advisory, will outline “the main vulnerabilities and risks to the stability of the Canadian financial system,” as well as “highlight the efforts of the Bank and other Canadian and international regulatory authorities to mitigate those risks.” (10 AM)

ON THE VIRTUAL COMMITTEE CIRCUIT

INDUSTRY members hear from four of Canada’s largest telecommunications companies — Cogeco, Rogers, TELUS and Xplornet — as they continue to examine issues surrounding mobile connectivity and high speed internet access in remote and rural regions, which has become a key element in delivering online education, e-health services and other programs during the COVID-19-imposed lockdown. (5 – 7 PM)

On the Senate side, INTERNAL ECONOMY members will get briefed on the impact that the pandemic is having on parliamentary and precinct activities, courtesy of a panel of senior officials from both the Library of Parliament and Public Services and Procurement Canada. (11 AM)

Due to the ongoing parliamentary shutdown, most House and Senate committee meetings are suspended until regular sittings resume.